Monday, September 27, 2010

How many of you are involved in either 4H or Scouting, or both? This is the time of year when both groups are adding members to start off their new year.

For our homeschooling family, we find it is a great way to supplement our homeschool learning. My girls have learned many new skills through these activities.

I have one daughter who could care less about math, yet is is the treasurer for our 4H group and loves it. (A rather sneaky way to sneak in some math and learn how to keep a checking account). By taking this duty on, she had to meet with the bank and learn some basic banking. She also was involved by setting up a new checking account for our group.

Other daughters were, or currently are president and vice president. They learned Roberts Rules of order, which many adults don't know! They also have learned how to present themselves in front of a group of people, how to conduct a meeting, maintain order within a group and public speaking skills.

Also, they have learned many projects from 4H and scouting that include sewing, animal care, working in a vets office, flying (including actually taking over the controls of the plane while in the air), learning to fold a flag and the history of the flag, public speaking, working with seniors and with preschoolers, all sorts of crafts, cooking, baking, and survival skills. (can you set up a tent and catch your own supper?? or create a shelter should you not have a tent??)

Dues for various groups vary, but are well worth the learning experience. If your group doesn't fit your needs, move to another group. But, this is the time to join should you or your child be interested.

I hate how the hardware/software computer people try and force a person into always buying upgrades.

I have not been able to access my blog from home for quite awhile. I was getting messages that my browser was too old...So, after taking some advice from friends, I downloaded Mozilla Firefox and once again I am able to post!

I had been adding some photos onto facebook, when suddenly I got a message that they would no longer accept ie6 (after I loaded 6 photos). It refused to allow me to load the last 3 photos. And, none of our computers would accept the upgrade to ie7 or ie8....

So, now I can access sites that before I was unable to-including my blog and some online textbooks. It is still slow, but I am a step ahead of where I was. But, slow is to be expected since only dial up is available in our area.

A lot has been happening since my last post.

New homeschool coops are forming, (and later this week I will be posting some information about those), the girls are enjoying volleyball (they are on the local Christian School team along with a slew of other homeschool girls), we have been processing food.

The girls have also started guitar lessons with a wonderful Christian lady from our church who is in our praise band, and plays numerous instruments and also sings. The best is-she is better than most other teachers, it is the perfect location (at church, right after church-we just take a quick sack lunch to eat first) and I love her prices. Since all my girls are at the same level, I can have them all in one lesson and she teaches them together and the same price I would have paid for just one. Otherwise, I don't know that I could afford private lessons for all of them. Later, we may add piano to it as well, but first we need to hunt down a couple more garage sale keyboards. They have already learned a few songs, and will be in a recital around Christmas time.

I have been busy canning peaches, apples, applesauce, apple jelly, and dehydrating food-mainly apples, peppers, and onions. I felt I was spending too much time in the kitchen, so went and spent some money on a little gadget that will peal, core and slice an apple all with the crank of a handle.

I also bought a food dehydrator. I could have used the oven, but this is much more energy efficient, and does not tie up the oven for long periods of time. My dehydrator even came with a jerky maker and the device to make fruit roll ups as well. Our apple chips have come out well, and I am waiting for bananas to go on sale to make banana chips. I am also going to try and make soup in a jar, or in a ziplock bag. I intend to dry my peppers, onions, tomatoes, rice or barley and other veggies, and meat, and then add broth powder and seasoning. I will divide it up into bags or jars and then on a busy winter day morning, just dump the entire thing into the crockpot, add water and simmer all day. By suppertime it should be ready to go.

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About Me

I'm a mom, currently homeschooling 2 of our 3 daughters still living at home, & stepmom to 2 who have already left home. We also have 3 toddlers we watch part time. Our 5 girls include 2 sets of twins.
This is our 5th year of homeschooling. We farm- have cows, horses, ducks, pigs, chickens, rabbits, dogs,cats & fish. We plant a garden & can & freeze our food. We have 2 stocked ponds, an orchard, & vineyard. Each year we try to expand. Our goal to be more of a homesteading family than a farm family.
My husband works fulltime outside of the home, & is a fire fighter, both paid and volunteer; I work at home. In addition, I also subteach & teach once a week.
I write part time & and sell articles to both print & online publications. I also own a business that teaches CPR, First Aid, babysitting 101, & more. In order to continue to be a stay at home mom (for the most part) I am always researching new ways to be frugal. My hobbies include sewing, reading, baking, needle work, gardening, camping & genealogy, volunteer firefighting & EMT.

My family tree

Genealogy is one of my favorite hobbies. I can spend hours in the library, at cemeteries or on the computer researching and inputting information into my software “Family Tree Maker”. Names in my tree that I am researching include (but are not limited to and of course have various spellings): Espey, also spelled Aspey, Shinabarger, Gray, Hough, Haynes, Lay, Cox, Miller, Lynn, French, Neukommer, Williams, Edgerton, Moore, Baldwin, Hall, Yoder, Rothman, Chadwick, Richards, Brey, Updike, Pierson and more.

A cousin has traced the line back to Austria. I have worked on lines in MO, IN, OR and PA.

If someone needs a grave photo that is located near Clinton Co, Nodaway Co or Johnson Co in Missouri, I can take a digital photo and send it to you for a $20 fee (mainly for my gas). You will get faster response for Clinton Co as that is where I live.

Prayer requests

Our family, as we deal with the loss of Debbie from cancer.

those without jobs

Caleb W

IDES teams as they work in Joplin MO

Daryl Burchetts' family, Daryl passed away from cancer.

Kori-a 16 year old that has been fighting cancer off and on the last several years.

Monette A. (a local homeschooling Christian mom with cancer)

Bryn (recovering from a heart transplant)

Those in or with family in Japan. Japan has disappeared out of the news, but there are still many who are homeless.

Our president

our soldiers away from home and their families here at home

our economy

our youth--our future! May we train them and teach them the way they should be taught

Joplin MO. We have friends who live here. One (Doug) completely lost EVERYTHING. Another, Faith Dunn, lost her life. Our family along with area homeschoolers have volunteered in Joplin and are planning to return.

Soap & Misc recipes

Automatic Dishwasher Soap

Add equal parts of 20 Mule Team Borax and Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda (not baking soda!). Stir together until well mixed.
A normal dishwasher will use 2 tablespoons per load